BILL NUMBER: SB 1600	CHAPTERED  09/13/00

	CHAPTER   427
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 12, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 28, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 24, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 3, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Burton

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2000

   An act to add Section 2620.5 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to physical therapists.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1600, Burton.  Physical therapy.
   The Physical Therapy Practice Act requires the licensure of
physical therapists by the Physical Therapy Board of California.  The
act authorizes, until December 31, 2000, physical therapists to
obtain certification from the board to perform tissue penetration for
the purpose of evaluating neuromuscular performance in accordance
with specified standards provided the physical therapist does not
develop or make diagnostic or prognostic interpretations of the data
obtained from the tissue penetration.
   A violation of any of the provisions relating to licensure of
physical therapists is a misdemeanor.
   This bill would reenact the provisions authorizing physical
therapists to obtain certification from the board to perform tissue
penetration, as specified, and would make it a violation of the
Medical Practice Act, subject to all of the sanctions and penalties
set forth in that act, for a physical therapist to develop or make a
diagnostic or prognostic interpretation of the data obtained from
tissue penetration performed to evaluate a patient's neuromuscular
performance.
   Because a violation of the bill's requirements with respect to the
certification of a physical therapist would be a crime, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the
definition of an existing crime.
  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 2620.5 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2620.5.  A physical therapist may, upon specified authorization of
a physician and surgeon, perform tissue penetration for the purpose
of evaluating neuromuscular performance as a part of the practice of
physical therapy, as defined in Section 2620, provided the physical
therapist is certified by the board to perform the tissue penetration
and evaluation and provided the physical therapist does not develop
or make diagnostic or prognostic interpretations of the data
obtained.  Any physical therapist who develops or makes a diagnostic
or prognostic interpretation of this data is in violation of the
Medical Practice Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of
Division 2), and may be subject to all of the sanctions and penalties
set forth in that act.
   The board, after meeting and conferring with the Division of
Licensing of the Medical Board of California, shall do all of the
following:
   (a) Adopt standards and procedures for tissue penetration for the
purpose of evaluating neuromuscular performance by certified physical
therapists.
   (b) Establish standards for physical therapists to perform tissue
penetration for the purpose of evaluating neuromuscular performance.

   (c) Certify physical therapists meeting standards established by
the board pursuant to this section.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the
only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district
will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction,
eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime
or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government
Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
